James Cook University (JCU) has significant expertise across all aspects of the Tropical Water Quality Hub’s Research Investment Strategy. JCU is the most cited institutions in the world for coral reef ecology (ISI Essential Science Indicators 2008–2013), received the highest rating for ecological applications and environmental science and management in the last round of Excellence for Research in Australia (ERA 2012) and is one of the top two Australian universities and in the top 30 in the world in environmental sciences and ecology (US News and World Report and NTU global rankings).
JCU staff have led large-scale, integrated, end-user driven research programs in the tropics for the last 25 years through their involvement in the CRC Reef and Torres Strait, Coastal CRC, TRaCK, MTSRF and NERP, and have developed trusted affiliations with key organisations including: GBRMPA, Wet Tropics Management Authority, Torres Strait Regional Authority, Queensland Government, local governments, NRM regional bodies, Traditional Owners, Regional Development Associations, tourism groups, agricultural and fisheries representative bodies and managers, environmental NGOs and port authorities.